Saying no is often the key to effective leadership. Make yourself heard when necessary. First, try to recognise situations that should raise a red flag. In order to deal with them, you need to make a carefully considered decision, bearing in mind what is at stake. This advice comes from the strategy-business.com website. So when should you say no?
1. You are asked to make a promise you can’t keep
It is far better to disappoint people in the short run than risk losing their trust and your own credibility. Be realistic about what you can deliver and maybe propose alternative ways instead.
2. You think it just isn’t right
Our gut reaction sometimes indicates when a situation is slipping into an unhealthy compromise. If something doesn’t feel right, take a moment to reflect. What is bothering you? What are the larger effects?
3. You feel you have no choice
When someone tells you you can't refuse, such intense pressure should serve as a warning. We always have a choice, although the stakes can be really high. It is our responsibility to recognise when there is something more important than a single project or deadline.
4. The plan has taken on a life of its own
Once someone has committed to a decision, they tend to persist even if things just aren’t working. To counteract such momentum, leaders in healthcare and aviation (to name just a couple) have developed protocols that prompt decision makers to pause and re-examine the data. Ask your team to make a list of assumptions that are behind their plan and then do a quick test to double-check the facts.
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